[Orinlooper]

Would a goat ruin our Walnut trees that are about 15 years old?

[Steph Hen]

Probably. They like bark and will eat leaves, twigs they can reach. Better be safe a than sorry. Fence; but not so sturdy they can stand on it! I had a big weather that could spring up onto and balance on a strainer post.

[macgro7]

They will only eat bark in winter unless you put something like chicken wire around it. They will definitely ear all the leaves and brake branches upto around 2 metres height.
Even 2 month old goat know exactly what to do. They bend the young trees to get to the crown and eat every single leaf!
If your trees are taller than 2-3 metres and thick enough that when a goat stands against it and it doesnt snap or bend you should be fine. My goats snapped some of my young fruit trees - almond, apples, pear, they wear really trying hard to get to the sweet chestnut but I protected it with a barrier made of 4 pallets ?
If the tree is tall enough that should be fine, but beware If you have young trees that are not taller than a goat standing on two legs (2 metres!) They will still finish all the leaves that they can reach. Very very naughty.

[Anke]

Isn't walnut one of the few trees that you shouldn't have in your goats' field? As in the leaves and bark a poisonous to ruminants?

[macgro7]

Isn't walnut one of the few trees that you shouldn't have in your goats' field? As in the leaves and bark a poisonous to ruminants?

It's very high in tannins- just like oak. Goats sheep and even cows will still eat it if they can though.

[Orinlooper]

My walnut trees are surrounded by blackberries now this will surely be some protection from goats

My main question is if goats do debark the tress will it kill the trees?

[Anke]

My walnut trees are surrounded by blackberries now this will surely be some protection from goats

I wouldn't count on it....

My main question is if goats do debark the tress will it kill the trees?

If they go all the way round - yes it will kill the trees. Even if not al the way round, it will slow them down and make them prone to disease. I would put at least some chicken wire round them.

[Scarlet.Dragon]

My walnut trees are surrounded by blackberries now this will surely be some protection from goats

My main question is if goats do debark the tress will it kill the trees?

Sounds like you're serving "entree" before the main course... might slow them down for about 5 minutes if it's a rampant thicket!

Yes, but whether that occurs before or after the trees kill the goats is questionable...